Toyota hasn't had a convertible sports car since the MR2 was withdrawn from sale in 2006. The 86 is part of a plan by the company to shed its image as a conservative car maker and hark back to its sportier roots, which included the 2000GT, the Supra and the Celica.

The confirmation of a convertible version of the 86 also raises the possibility of an open-top version of its sister car, the Subaru BRZ.

There have been rumours of a convertible BRZ for a while, but according to Subaru Australia's head of public relations, David Rowley, that will be a game of wait-and-see.